Letter F: Sounds, Words and How to Write It
F is the sixth letter of the English alphabet. It comes after E and before G. F is a consonant. The capital (uppercase) letter is F and the small (lowercase) letter is f.
How to write it · Sounds · Words · Printable sheet · Quiz · FAQ
Last updated: October 2026
Letter F at a Glance
| Position | 6th of 26 letters |
|---|---|
| Type | Consonant |
| Uppercase and lowercase | F f |
| Comes between | E and G |
| Main sounds | f, ph |
| Strokes to write it | Capital F: 3 · small f: 2 |
How to Write Capital F and Small f
Follow the numbers: start each stroke at its numbered dot and move in the direction of the arrow. The blue top line, dashed middle line and red bottom line match the lines on handwriting paper.
Capital F (3 strokes)
- Start at the top. Draw a straight line down.
- Draw a line across the top, going right.
- Draw a shorter line across the middle.
Small f (2 strokes)
- Start just below the top line. Curve up and to the left like the top of a cane.
- Draw a straight line down to the bottom line.
- Draw a short line across at the middle line.
Small f is a tall letter: it reaches up toward the top line, like b, d and h.
Common mix-up: Capital F looks like E without the bottom line, and lowercase f can be confused with t. In f, the curve is at the top; t has no curve at the top.
Practice by tracing in the letter tracing game, then on paper with the Alphabet Tracing and Lowercase Letter Tracing worksheets.
Free Printable Letter F Tracing Sheet
Print this one-page sheet for practice at home or in class. Each row starts with a solid model letter, followed by dotted letters to trace, then empty lines to write F and f alone.
What Sound Does F Make?
- f: made by resting your top teeth on your bottom lip and blowing, without using your voice. Examples: fish, fan, fox, leaf.
- ph: the letters p and h together often make the same f sound. Examples: phone, photo, dolphin.
Practice the sound with pictures on F is for Fish, which shows how to make the sound with your mouth, or match sounds on the Letter Sounds worksheet.
Words That Start With F
F is for Fish! Here are more F words:
F also appears in the middle or at the end of words: leaf, giraffe, elf, off, roof.
Interesting Facts About F
- F and V are made with the same mouth shape. V uses your voice and F does not.
- F is often doubled at the end of short words, as in off, puff and cliff.
Quick Quiz: Letter F
Answer each question, then tap it to check.
Which letter comes right before F?
E.
Which letters can also make the f sound, as in phone?
p and h together (ph).
How many lines go across in capital F?
Two: one at the top and one in the middle.
Activities for Parents and Teachers
In the Classroom
Hand out paper fans and have children wave them while chanting "F is for fan!" Then hop around the room like frogs, calling out other F words the class can think of along the way.
At Home
Hold a small piece of tissue paper in front of your child's mouth while they say words like fish or fan — they'll see the tissue flutter from the air, which helps the F sound click. Then trace the letter F together on paper.
Tips
Parents: If your child struggles to hear the F sound, have them place a hand in front of their mouth to feel the airflow — it's a quick, physical way to confirm they're making the sound correctly.
Teachers: Letter F pairs naturally with nature walks — flowers, fruit, and frogs are all common outdoor finds that reinforce the letter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What number letter is F in the alphabet?
F is the sixth letter of the 26-letter English alphabet. It comes after E and before G.
Is F a vowel or a consonant?
F is a consonant. All letters except the vowels A, E, I, O and U are consonants (Y can be both).
What sound does the letter F make?
F makes these sounds: f as in fish; ph as in phone.
How do you write a small f?
Start just below the top line. Curve up and to the left like the top of a cane. Draw a straight line down to the bottom line. Draw a short line across at the middle line. Small f is a tall letter: it reaches up toward the top line, like b, d and h.
What are some words that start with F?
Words that start with F include fish, fan, fox, frog, flower, feather.
Why does phone start with ph instead of f?
Many words with ph came into English from Greek, where that sound was written with a different letter. English kept the ph spelling.
Summary
F is the sixth letter of the alphabet and is a consonant. Its main sounds are f, ph. Capital F takes 3 strokes and small f takes 2. Next, learn the letter G.